Packaging machine



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PACKAGING MAC Hans A. Jensen and Augustus H. Eberman, Madison, Wis, assignors to Oscar Mayer & (30., Inc., Chicago, EL, a corporation of Illinois Application October 6, 1954, Serial No. 460,731

51 Claims. (Cl. 53-138) This invention relates to packaging machines and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a machine of the type which feeds material to be packaged into a continuous tube of relatively thin pliable material, and constricts, seals and severs the filled tube at intervals to divide the same into a plurality of separate individual packages.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 167,874 filed June 13, 1950, now abandoned.

it is a general object of the invention to provide a packaging machine of the type described which feeds material to be packaged into a continuously advancing tube of relatively thin pliable material, which divides the tube at predetermined spaced intervals by gathering the tube material and forming therein a constricted area, which provides axially spaced seal formations within the constricted area to form the top of one package and the bottom of the next succeeding package, and which severs the constricted portion of the tube between the seal formations to separate the successively formed packages.

it is a more specific object of the invention to provide a packaging machine for forming and continuously advancing a tube of relatively thin pliable material, which feeds material to be packaged into the tube, which divides the tube at regular intervals by gathering the tube ma- L l terial and forming therem a constricted area, which applies a pair of spaced closure members within the constricted area to form the top of one package and the bottom of the next succeeding package, and which severs the constricted portion of the tube between the closure members to separate the successively formed packages.

it is another object of the invention to provide a machine of the character described which is particularly adapted for use in packaging paste-like or semi-fluid materials by continuously forming a tube of film material around a hollow mandrel, feeding the material to be packaged through the hollow mandrel, constricting the tube at spaced intervals, forming and applying thereto successive pairs of metal closure bands simultaneously with the constricting of the tube in spaced relation on the constricted portions of the tube and severing the tube in the constricted area between the closure bands.

it is a further object of the invention to provide a packaging machine of the type described wherein a web of flexible sheet material is continuously fed axially of a hollow filling mandrel and formed into a tube, a continuous stream of material is delivered through the mandrel to the end of the moving tube, the tube material is gathered at spaced intervals to form a constricted area, two closely spaced closures are formed and secured in spaced relation around the constricted area and the tube is severed between the closures to provide successive individual tubular packages of the material which are closed at opposite ends by the closure members.

It is a still more specific object of the invention to provide a machine of the character described for forming from a web of flexible sheet material a continuous tube around a hollow mandrel through which the material to t 52 be packaged is delivered, for simultaneously forming pairs of U-shaped metal band members, for delivering the pairs of band members successively to a position adjacent the end of the filling mandrel, for constricting the tube at successive axially spaced areas, for moving the pairs of metal band members into spaced encompassing relation with the constricted portions of the tube, for clinching the band members to provide encircling closure members and for severing the tube between the metal closure members to provide individual packages.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a. tube filling and closing machine of the type described, mechanism for applying a continuous tube of relatively thin pliable material around a hollow tubular mandrel, mechanism for continuously advancing the tube beyond the end of the mandrel, mechanism for continuously feeding the material to be packaged through the mandrel and into the continuously advancing tube, aself-containedconstrictingsealing and severing unit mounted for reciprocation at regular intervals in the direction of advancing movement of the tube, which self'contained unit comprises means for constricting the moving tube along an extended area, means for severing the tube within the constricted area and means for sealing the constricted tube adjacent the severing point during the advancing movement of the unit to provide a plurality of successive individual packages, the unit being free from engagement with the tube as it is moved in the opposite direction, and means for controlling the material feeding mechanism to vary the amount of material in the packages.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a machine for continuously forming a series of packages, a hollow tubular mandrel, mechanism for applying a continuous tube of relatively thin pliable material in telescoped relation on the mandrel, means for feeding the material to be packaged through the mandrel, means for operating the material feeding means continuously and at uniform speed, mechanism beyond the end of the mandrel engageable with opposite sides of the tube while it is being filled for continuously advancing the tube, means for operating said tube advancing means continuously and at uniform speed, a self-contained constricting, sealing and severing unit mounted for reciprocation in the direction of axial movement of the tube, the self-contained units comprising means for constricting the advancing tube along an extended area, means for sealing the tube at spaced points along the constricted area, and means for severing the tube between the sealing points, means for reciprocating the unit periodically, and means for independently varying the speed of operation of the tube advancing means relative to the speed of operation of the unit to vary the size of the package.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine for solidly packaging a fluent material in a thin pliant skin-like casing wherein a tubular casing of thin pliant skin-like material is applied in telescoping relation around a hollow mandrel, the material to be packaged is fed in a continuous stream through the mandrel and into the tube as the tube is advanced beyond the end of the mandrel, a hollow box-like cross'frame is slidably supported on spaced side frame members and extends across the path of advancing movement of the filled tube, and movable mechanism is provided within the frame for constricting the filled tube along an extended area, for severing the tube within the constricted area and for sealing the constricted tube adjacent the severing point to provide successive packages.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a packaging machine which comprises a hollow tube forming mandrel having associated therewith, mechanism for forming from a web of sheet material a continuous tube by folding the material around the mandrel and com 2,831,302 I Patented Apr. 22, 1958 3 tinuously applying a longitudinal seam to overlapping longitudinal margins of the same, pairs of cooperating feed rollers adjacent the end of the mandrel for continuously moving the tube beyond the mandrel, mechanism including a movable anvil for feeding metal strips and forming on the anvil successive pairs of LJ-shaped closures, mechanism for moving the anvil to deliver the successive pairs of closures into a position adjacent the end of the mandrel, mechanism adjacent the end of the mandrel for contricting the tube at longitudinally spaced areas and applying the U-shaped closures in spaced rclation thereto while simultaneously severing the constricted tube between the closures to separate successive individual packages from the same.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine for fabricating from a web of sheet material a series of connected packages wherein a reciprocable tube constricting and closure applying head is provided which includes a pair of oppositely disposed slidable carrier blocks arranged on opposite sides of the tube, the blocks each having thereon a plurality of plate members provided with V-shaped slots in the free ends thereof, and the plate members on each carrier block being arranged in spaced relation whereby the slotted ends thereof move in interleaved relation to constrict the tube when the blocks are moved toward each other.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a machine of the type described a reciprocable head for constricting the tube formation at spaced intervals and applying thereto a pair of spaced closure members in combination with a closure member forming mechanism which includes means for intermittently feeding a pair of strips of material suitable for fabricating the closure members, means for severing predetermined lengths of material from the strips, a forming anvil, means for bending the severed lengths of material around the anvil and into generally U-shaped clips and means for moving the anvil relative to the reciprocable head to transfer the preformed closure clips to the head for application to constricted areas of the tube formation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine for fabricating from a web of sheet material a series of connected packages which machine includes a reciprocable tube constricting head and a cooperating closure forming and applying mechanism, the constricting head being provided with a pair of oppositely disposed slidable carrier blocks arranged on opposite sides of the tube, the blocks each having thereon a plurality of plate members characterized by U-shaped slots in the free ends thereof, the plate members on each carrier block being arranged in spaced relation whereby the slotted ends thereof move in interleaved relation to constrict the tube when the carrier blocks are moved toward each other, and the closure forming and applying mechanism being arranged to intermittently feed a pair of strips of material suitable for forming the closure members, to sever lengths of material from the strips and simultaneously form the severed lengths of material into generally U-shaped clips around a movable anvil, which clips are thereafter transferred by movement of the anvil relative to the reciprocable head for application to constricted areas of the tube formationby cooperating clincher plates arranged between the spaced constricting plates on the movable carrier blocks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a packaging machine of the type described continuously driven feed rollers adjacent the end of the tube forming and filling mandrel which are arranged to engage the walls of the filled tube, to collapse the portion of the tube adjacent to the feed rollers and to continuously advance the tube toward the tube constricting and sealing unit, and an independently controlled adjustable drive connected to the feed rollers whereby to permit the tube to be advanced at varying rates of speed.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a packaging machine of the character described a mechanism which is operable in timed relation to the operation of the tube constricting and closure applying devices, and which will engage the filled tube at predetermined intervals and squeeze away the material in the areas to be constricted prior to the tube constricting and closure applying operations.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the machine which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tube forming and longitudinal seam sealing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing portions of the tube feeding and constricting mechanisms;

Fig. 5 is a view taken generally on the lines 5-5 of Fig.2 to an enlarged scale showing the top of the constricting mechanism in the closed position;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken generally on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 5, to an enlarged scale, and in open position;

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken generally on the line 77 of Fig. 5 to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a view taken as in Fig. 5 with the constricting mechanism in open position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the top plates of the constricting mechanism removed;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken generally on the line 10-10 of Fig. 5 to an enlarged scale illustrating the operation of the tube constricting and closure applying mechanism With portions of the tube being shown;

Fig. 11 is a section taken generally on the lines 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail section taken generally on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a detail section taken generally on the line 13-13 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of Fig. 2 to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail elevation of the closure band preforming mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a section taken generally on the line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a detail view to an enlarged scale of the mechanism for feeding the strips of material for fabricating the closure bands;

Fig. 21 is a detail view taken generally on the line 21-21 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is an elevation of the package produced by the machine;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a modified mechanism incorporated in the machine for heating the edges of the film and guiding it around the mandrel;

Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary section on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a modification in which a tube squeezing mechanism is provided between the end of the mandrel and the tube constricting device;

Fig. 27 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 26 with the tube squeezing rollers in open position; 

